Lead in School Drinking Fountains: Why It Is Still a Problem

Lead contamination in school drinking fountains persists due to aging infrastructure, intermittent water use patterns, and the complex plumbing networks found in older educational buildings. Many school campuses were constructed during periods when lead solder and brass fittings were standard materials, and even fountains installed in the 1990s or early 2000s may still include components that contain measurable lead content. Water stagnates in pipes overnight, over weekends, and during school breaks, allowing extended contact between water and metallic surfaces. This increases the likelihood of lead dissolution before students return each morning.

Replacing a fountain fixture rarely resolves the full problem because lead can originate from the fountain itself, the feeder line behind the wall, or the service line that supplies the building. Schools often discover that individual fixtures produce variable results depending on pipe condition, water chemistry, and age of the plumbing segment. Because maintenance budgets are limited and infrastructure replacement is expensive, school districts frequently prioritize repairs rather than full line replacement. As a result, the underlying sources of corrosion remain in service for years or decades.

Testing in schools is inconsistent nationwide. Some states mandate routine testing while others rely on voluntary programs. Even when testing occurs, samples may not capture worst case stagnation periods or reflect fountains that are infrequently used. Lead is invisible and tasteless, so students cannot detect contamination through sensory cues. Scientific studies have documented that a significant portion of school fountains in the United States exceed recommended lead levels at least once during their operational lifetime. Parents and administrators increasingly supplement school testing with independent screening tools to identify problematic fountains or prioritize which outlets should be replaced or filtered. 

By Ryan N., PhD